Action display device



DEC. 30, Q KEE ACTION DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 28, 1949 0 E SW7/4. :7:r ag j a a a a 6 j g WE; 6 j g @yn/PLE Jn/EE,

awww-S Patented Dec. 30, 1952 ACTION DISPLAY DEVICE Charles L. Kee,Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to William J. OHear, Jackson Heights, N. Y.

Application March 28, 1949, Serial No. 83,834 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-126)This invention relates to an action display device and more particularlyto a device of this class in which a fluid body is visibly transferredfrom one element of the display to another.

Heretofore, action display devices of this general class have embodied afree flowing fluid for visible discharge from one transparent receptacleinto another, but these devices have usually completely drained thestorage receptacle into the receiving receptacle or the discharge hasbeen from a concealed source of supply into a receiving receptacle.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to create a completelyrealistic illusion of the pouring of liquid or the like from onetransparent receptacle to another by permitting only a portion of thefluid to be drained from the supply receptacle. It is also an object ofthe invention to provide a device in which the receiving receptacle isonly comfortably filled, thereby imparting greater realism to theillusion. Specifically, the invention is illustrated in connection witha transparent pouring receptacle from which liquid is supplied to atransparent receiving receptacle and wherein a quantity of liquid isretained in the pouring receptacle and the receiving receptacle isfilled to a depth slightly below the rim thereof.

The fuller nature and further objects of the invention will becomeapparent as the description thereof is read with regard to the drawingforming a part hereof, and in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a face view of an action display panel,

Fig. 2 is a front View thereof with the covering panel removed to showunderlying structure, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device.

The display device relates particularly to that class wherein a panel Iis provided for periodic reversal or inversion about its transverse axisto render the action visible. The panel III includes a framework I2,herein shown as substantially rectangular. Extending between twoopposite sides of the framework I2 is a supporting base I4 to which areaflixed the fluid receiving receptacles I6 and I8, herein illustrated asbeing formed as a unitary structure although not necessarily soconstructed.

The first fluid containing receptacle I6 is inclined horizontally withinthe plane of the framework I2 so that when the panel is positioned in asubstantially vertical direction, the mouth of the receptacle I6 is atthe lower point of inclination.

The fluid receiving receptacle I8 is positioned in a substantiallyvertical manner on the supporting base I4 and has its mouth located atapoint below the mouth of the receptacle I6. A conduit I9interconnectsthe receptacles I6 and I8 whereby the fluid therein maypass from one receptacle to the other. A restricting valve 20 may beplaced in the throat of the receiving receptacle I8 in order to limitthe flow from the receptacle I6 into the receptacle I8 to a relativelyslow stream and` for the further purpose of spreading the stream in arealistic manner.

One of the important features lies in the relative proportions of thereceptacle I6 andthe receptacle I8. The receptacle I6 is larger than thereceptacle I8 and in the discharge passage thereof is provided a weir 22which limits the amount of fluid that is permitted to escape from thereceptacle I6 to the receiving receptacle I8 while the panel is in asubstantially vertical position. The receptacles I6 and I8 may betransparent in whole, or may have applied to one or both sides thereof atransparent window as, for example, the window 24 which covers thecavity of the receptacle I6 and the window 2li which covers the cavityof the receptacle I8.

To one or both faces of the framework I2 is attached a, pictorialrepresentation 28 which has one or more transparent areas adapted tooverlie one or both of the fluid holding receptacles within the frame.Specifically, the representation illustrated herein is that of a personpouring a liquid from a bottle 30 into a glass 32. At least a portion 34of the bottle 30 is transparent so that the liquid within the receptacleI6 is visible from the face of the pictorial representation of thedisplay device.

Similarly, a portion 36 of the glass 321 is also transparent and thistransparent portion overlies the transparent portion 26 of theunderlying receiving receptacle I8.

Herein the panel I0 has lillustrated a pictorial representation on onlyone face thereof, the cover or facing on the opposite side having beenomitted to facilitate illustration. It is contemplated, however, thatboth faces of the panel will be enclosed. The rear face panel may haveonly intelligence thereon or a further pictorial representation in whichthe reverse flow of the fluid from the receptacle I8 into the receptacleI6 is utilized for imparting action when the 'panel is rotated about itstransverse axis to bring into view the opposite face thereof, the devicebeing supported in a vertical position for rotation about its transverseaxis on suitable horizontally supporting elements 38, 38.

With the mechanism as described, it will be seen that when that face ofthe panel illustrated in Fig. 1 has been presented to view by rotatingthe same on its transverse axis, there will be presented the illusion ofliquid ilowing from the bot- -tle 30 into the glass 32. The fall of theliquid level in the bottle 39 can be observed through the transparentportion 42 while at the same time the rise of the liquid level in theglass 32 can be observedithrough the transparent portion 36. The greaterrealism is imparted to the display device by the fact that the weir 22permits only so much liquid to enter the receptacle I8 so as Ato ll thesame to a point somewhat short of the'lip of the glass 32 which overliesthe-receptacle :[8. same time the weir retains liquidwithinrthereceptacle I6 so as to give the illusion .of residual liquidwithin the bottle, substantially to'the'levei visible through thetransparent portionfi of the representation. Upon subsequent rotation ofthe panel H3 aboutfits ,transverseaxis the fluid will .drainirom the.receptacle |18 and willagainrefpose infullinthe receptacle l 6.

While the 'invention has beendescribed specifi- :callyin connection witha display device Yrepre- .senting the pouring of liquid from a 'bottleto a glass, the invention may be embodied in other ;representationswithout departing from the spirit `of Vthe claims thatare tofollow.

1.,1In.an action display device, a framework, a support Within .saidframework, a first fluid receptacle fixed to-said support, asecond fluidreceptacle of smaller -size .Xed .to said'support, a ,uid .conduitinterconnecting said receptacles, a free .flowing :fluid substantiallyVfilling .said rst .receptaclaa weir insaid conduitfor limiting .the

f flow of .fluid fromsaidfirst receptacle .into said second receptacle,to -za volume slightly Yless than the-.capacity .ofisaid secondreceptacle,.and apic- .torial representation ,on Athe .face .of 4saidframework4 having `transparent. v,portions .overlying .said receptacles.

:2. ,In an .action display .devicefadapted fordis- 'play in asubstantially verticalpositioma framework, :a `first fluid receptacle.positioned within .said frameworkandinclined downwardly, a secondsubstantially smaller fluid receptacle posi- ,.tioned wthinsaidframeworkbelow .thelower end o'f .saizl .first receptacle, a fluid conduitvintercon- At 'the '4 necting the lower end of said rst receptacle withsaid second receptacle, a free owing huid of sumcient volume tosubstantially fill said first receptacle within said rst receptacle, asubstantially vertical weir in said conduit for limiting the flow of uidfrom said first receptacle into said second receptacle to a volumeslightly less than the capacity of said second receptacle, and apictorial 'representation on at least one face of said frameworkhavingtransparent portions overlying said receptacles.

3. In an action display device adapted for dis- ,playin .a substantiallyvertical position, a frame- "work, means to support said framework in aver- .,ticaljposition for rotation about a transverse axis, a rst fluid:receptacle positioned within said framework and inclined downwardly, asecond substantially smaller uid receptacle positioned withinrsaidframework below the lower end of said rst receptacle, a fluid conduitinterconnecting the ,lov/ er end vof saidrstreceptacle with .said secondreceptacle, a `free iowinglluid vof .su'icient volume to substantiallyllsaid Iirst .receptacle within said rst receptacle, as-ubstantiallyvertical weir in said ,conduitfor limiting the vflow of iluid .from.said rst receptacleinto ,said second receptacle to a volume slightlyless than the capacity of said second receptacle, and a pictorialrepresentation on at least one face of saidframework having 'transparentportions overlying Asaid receptacles.

CHARLESL. KEE.

:REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Number .Name Date 0 1,068,875 Fielding July 29,1913 A1,471,6(55 Kee V.Oct..23, 1923 1,990,230 Gray Feb. 5, 19352,304,522 Wuestman Dec. 8, 1942 .12,315,240 -Ashenberg-et al. Mar. 30,17943 V2,519,307 Brown Aug. l5, 1950 'FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 249,829 Great Britain Sept, 23, 1926 648,345 France Aug. 13, V1928

